Invalid-bed.



M. D. GAVAN'.

INVALID BED. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, i909.

. Patnte'd Apr. 5, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A\\\ 1mm? M. D. GAVAN.

INVALID BED. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3, 1909.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

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MICHAEL D. GAVAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

INVALID-BED.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL D. GAVAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Invalids Beds, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to invalids bedsteads, and particularly that type in which the bottom or mattress support of the bed is composed of two side sections that can be raised into an inclined position to turn the occupant of the bed, and also a head section that can be adjusted into an inclined or vertical position so as to support the occupant in an upright or inclined position.

The main object of my present invention is to provide a bed of the type referred to which is so constructed that the end frames and side rails of an ordinary metallic bedstead can be used, thus reducing the cost of manufacture and also producing an invalids bedstead which presents a neat and orna mental appearance.

Another object of my invention is to provide a bedstead of the type referred to in which the parts are detachably connected together so that they can be disassembled easily and shipped in knock-down form.

Another object is to provide a metallic bedstead in which the side rails are connected to the end frames in a novel manner, and still another object is to provide means of novel construction for retaining the head piece in an inclined or vertical position.

Other objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective View of an invalids bedstead constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of same; Fig. 3 is a top plan View; Fig. 4 is an endview of the bed; Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the locks on the side rails that cooperates with the support on the head section to retain it in an inclined or vertical position; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on approximately the line 6-6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 2 for the purpose of illustrating the construction of the locking devices that retain the side sections in adjusted position;

and Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view illus- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 3, 1909.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

Serial No. 516,089.

trating the'pivotal connection between the members of the spring frame.

Referring to the drawings which illus trate the preferred form of my invention. 1 designates the head end frame of the bed, and 2 designates the foot end frame, both of which may be of any preferred construction. The side rails 3 that connect the end frames together are of angle shape in cross section, and the end frames 1 and 2 are pro vided with laterally projecting brackets 4 which said side rails embrace. I prefer to provide each of the brackets 4 with a reduced portion so as to form shoulders against which the ends of the side rails abut and thus cause the top and side faces of each rail to lie flush with the cooperating surfaces of the brackets to which it is connected. A pin 5 passes transversely through each of said brackets and the portion of the side rail that embraces said bracket, as shown clearly in Fig. 6, and a wedge-shaped key 6 is arranged in an opening or slot in the end of said pin so as to retain it in position, said key being adapted to be driven downwardly so as to force the head 5 of the pin into intimate engagement with the side rail. The shoulders 011 the brackets 4 prevent the side rails from moving longitudinally and the pins 5 and keys 6 prevent the side rails from moving vertically or transversely so that it will be im possible for the side rails to become displaced accidentally. If desired, the keys 6 can be connected to the end frames by short pieces of chain 7 so that they will not be lost when the parts of the bed are disassembled. A construction of this character is strong and rigid, it presents a neat and ornamental appearance and it can also be taken apart quickly.

The bottom of the bed consists of a woven wire fabric, springs, or a piece of flexible material that is connected to a frame which rests upon the side rails and which I will hereinafter term a spring frame although I do not wish it to be understood that it is necessary to make the bottom of the bed out of springs for a woven wire fabric 8 or, in fact, any other suitable material could be used for this purpose without departing from the spirit of my invention. This spring frame is composed of pieces that are hinged or pivotally connected together in such a manner that the bottom of the bed is divided into side sections that can be raised into an inclined position to turn the occupant, and a head section that can be raised into an inclined or vertical position to permit the occupant to assume a sitting posture.

In the construction herein shown the spring frame consists of two members A, preferably iron bars or rods, that have their ends bent inwardly so as to form legs A that extend parallel to the end frames 1 and 2, the members A extending parallel to the side rails 3, as shown in Fig. 1. The legs A of the side members of the spring frame at the foot of the bed are hinged or pivotally connected to a piece 9 that is secured to a piece of angle iron 10 which is detachably connected to the foot end frame 2, and the legs A at the opposite end or head end of the spring frame are hinged or pivotally connected to a piece 11 that is detachably connected to a bar 12 which extends transversely of the bed and rests freely upon the side rails.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the spring frame of the bed consists of two substantially U-shaped members arranged with their legs projecting inwardly so that each member can be raised into an inclined position, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1 whenever it is desired to turn the occupant of the bed. Each member A is preferably provided with a handle 13 that can be grasped by the nurse or attendant when it is desired to lift said member, and each member A is also provided with a curved bar let provided with notches or holes 15 that are adapted to be engaged by a spring-pressed plunger 16 on the side rail and thus lock the member A in its adjusted position. Each plunger 16 is preferably mounted in a housing 17 on the side rail, and a spring 18 is interposed between the end wall of said housing and a collar 19 on the plunger so as to force the plunger into engagement with the bar 14: as soon as the attendant releases the plunger. A locking device of this construction is simple and can be manufactured at a low cost but it will, of course, be obvious that various other forms of locking devices could be used for accomplishing the same result without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The members A which form the side sections of the spring frame are preferably jointed or hinged at 20, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to permit them to be raised in an inclined or vertical position, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, and thus form an adjustable head section. The joint or hinge intermediate the end of each member A is preferably formed by means of a pin 2O that passes through overlapping wings or cars on the two sections or pieces which constitute said member, as shown in Fig. 8. The bar 12 that carries the piece 11 to which the legs A at the head end of the bed are pivotally connected, rests freely on the side rails and also forms a support for the legs A that are connected to the piece 11. so as to prevent said legs from moving relatively to the piece 1.1 when the head section of the spring frame is moved upwardly. The bar 12 is preferably provided with a handle 21 that can be grasped by the attendant when it is desired to move the head section into an inclined position, and means is provided for locking said head section in its adjusted position. In the construction herein shown said means consists of blocks B connected to the hori- Zontal flanges of the side rails by means of fastening devices 22 adjacent the head end of the bed and provided with racks 23, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, that cooperate with a sup-- port on the head section. This support preferably consists of arms 2st provided at one end with eyes 25 through which a transversely extending rod 26 on the head section passes, said arms being provided with later ally projecting extensions 27 that engage the teeth of the racks 23. The head section comprises bars 28 that extend parallel to the side rails, as shown in Fig. 1, and which have their inner ends fastened to links 29 that are pivotally connected to the side rails 3, the outer ends of the bars 28 passing through eyes 30 on the under side of the bar 12. The rods 28 are provided at their outer ends with openings through which cotter pins pass so as to prevent said rods from pulling out of the eyes 30, and cotter pins are also arranged in the ends of the bar 26 so as to prevent said bar from pulling out of the eyes on the ends of the arms 24. When the head section is moved upwardly the ex tensions 27 on the arms 24 slide over the racks 23 and thus lock the head section in an inclined or vertical position. hen it is desired to lower the head section said head section is moved forwardly so that the extensions 27 will pass out of engagement with the racks 23 and thence pass downwardly into the grooves or passageways 23 which are arranged underneath said racks, the extensions 27 traveling longitudinally through said grooves until the arms 24 reach their horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1. If desired, a counterweight 31 can be secured to a chain or cable 32 which passes over a pulley 33 on the head end frame 1 and is fastened to a rod 34 that passes through the inner ends of the bars 28, as shown in Fig. 1 so as to enable the head section to be elevated easily.

One desirable feature of my improved bedstead is that it can be manufactured cheaply owing to the fact that the end frames and the side rails of an ordinary metallic bed can be used for carrying the spring frame. It also presents a neat and ornamental appearance and can be shipped in knock-down form as the various parts or members of the bed are detachably connectedtogether by cotter pins or similar devices which can be withdrawn and inserted easily.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An invalids bed provided with ahinged head section that forms part of the bottom of the bed and which is adapted to be raised into an inclined or vertical position, a flexible member connected to the inner end of said section, a guide over which said member passes, and a counterweight on said flexible member for assisting the upward movement of said head section.

2. An invalids bed comprising end frames, side railsconnecting said end frames together, a spring frame resting on said side rails and consisting of two approximately U -shaped members, each of which is hinged or pivotally connected at one end to a device on one of the end frames, and at its opposite end to a device on a transversely extending bar resting on the side rails and located adjacent the opposite end frame.

3. An invalids bed comprising end frames, side rails connecting said end frames together, a transversely extending bar which rests freely on the side rails adjacent the head of the bed, a frame consist-- ing of two substantially U-shaped members which are hinged or pivotally connected at one end to said bar, and at their opposite ends to the end frame at the foot of the bed, said members being jointed intermediate their ends so as to form a head section that can be moved upwardly, rods connected atone end to said bar and at their opposite ends to links which are fastened to the side rails, and arms carried by said rods and cooperating with racks on the side rails.

41:. An invalids bed provided with a movable head section that forms part of the bottom of the bed, members connected to the side rails and provided with rack teeth and grooves arranged under said rack teeth, and arms carried by said section and provided with laterally projecting extensions that are adapted to travel over said rack teeth when the head section is moved upwardly and travel in the opposite direction through said grooves when the head sec tion is moved downwardly.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this thirty-first day of August 1909.

MICHAEL D. GAVAN. 

